Regional Directors

Pete Furze – Regional Executive Director

Mr. Furze is responsible for IMRI business operations at Stennis Space Center and the surrounding areas of Mississippi and Louisiana. He joined IMRI following a highly successful 30 year career in the US Navy. Early in his career he gained extensive Naval Warfare practice in Anti-Submarine Warfare, Amphibious Warfare, and Humanitarian Operations. As a senior officer, he gained a wealth of leadership and management experience, while embracing innovation and implementing change.

While assigned to the Chief of Naval Operations Staff as the Oceanography Resource and Requirements Officer, Mr. Furze managed $32M per year in acquisition programs, and associated research and development. Later, at the SPAWARSYSCOM Meteorology and Oceanography Systems Program Office, he was Program Manager for the Tactical Environmental Support System (TESS).

Mr. Furze held command (CEO equivalent) as Commander Undersea Surveillance where he led a major turn-around and renewed focus on operational excellence in acoustic maritime surveillance. He also commanded the Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center where he initiated five-day hurricane and typhoon forecasts in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. As Meteorology and Oceanography Command’s Chief of Staff he led the staff and 3200 operational personnel through an extensive reorganization and one third down-sizing. During that assignment, he also directed personnel and facilities recovery for six Navy activities (nearly 2000 military and civil service personnel, and their families) based at Stennis Space Center following the regional devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, which destroyed his own home.

He earned a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from Naval War College and a Master of Science degree in Meteorology and Oceanography from Naval Postgraduate School.